Theophano of Byzantium

  General Notes:

Born: 956, Constantinople [now Istanbul, Turkey]
Marriage: Otto II der Rote of Germany on 14 Apr 972
Died: 15 Jun 991, Nymwegen, Netherlands at age 35
General Notes:
"Empress Theophano and the Abduction of Otto IIIIn Germany, in the year 983, the kingdom of Otto II was in great turmoil. After losing a decisive battle in Italy, Otto II was returning home to his wife Theophano and son Otto III when he was suddenly struck ill. Exausted from the war, historians believed that Otto II probably contracted Malaria . Otto tried to seek a remedy through the use of Aloes, but "his dose was too great and led to fatal complications" (Duckett 105). On december 7, 983 at the young age of 28, King Otto II died.With his fathers death, Otto III was soon crowned the King of Germany on Christmas day in 983 at the young age of three and a half. The death of Otto II could not have come at a worse time for Germany because the Slavic forces were starting to revolt and a war seemed inevitable.With King Otto II dead and his son still too young to take leadership, the German council went into deliberation and decided that Theophano, the mother to Otto III, should take charge of all political affairs while her son was not yet of age to rule over germany.Theophano was Greek, with Byzantine lineage. She was born in 956, and at the young age of sixteen, she was married off by her father to the son of Otto the Great in 972. Along with her Byzantine lineage which was said to "give her influnce with Constantinople", Theophano was also known for her "shrewd skill and intimate knowledge" which helped her rule effectively. (Duckett 106)With the help of Archbishop Wiligis and Hildibald, bishop of Worms as major support and council, Theophano was forced into the job of governing Gemany for the next eleven years until her son would reach majority and assume the throne.Empress Theophano had many problems with her reign. One of the first problems that she encountered was the fact that most men inthe German army were skeptical about having a woman hold such a high polical office in the German government. since Germany was under attack on its borders, most men felt that it would be best for "a warrior and a statesman" to be in command"(Duckett 106).A second problem that Theophano faced was the fact that she was Greek, and many Germans of that time period were highly distrustful of the Greek. This major point one one of the main reasons why her leadership during this time period was in turmoil, because most men were distrustful of her actions.After less than a year in political office one of the worst tragedies struck the kingdom since the death of King Otto II. It seemed that Henry the Quarreler, a prisoner of the bishop of Utrecht since 978 was released. Then with the help of Otto's guardian, Archbishop of Cologne, Henry was able to kidnap the four year old king and demanded that the kingdom and the throne should be given to him.On June 29, 984, with the threat of a possible war by Willigis and Conrad, Duke of Swabia, Henry decided that it would be best to restore the little king to his mother Theophano. Since Henry was a nephew of Otto the Great, he was allowed to "aknowledge his offences and was forgiven"(Duckett 108).After presiding over German policy for seven years, the empress died in June of 991 at Nymwegen in the Netherlands. She was buried in Cologne in the Monastery of St. Pantaleon.Otto III went on to lead Germany for the next eleven years until his empire crumbled and his health quickly slipped away. In January of 1002, fever struck Otto III, and he died a few days later on January 23, at the young age of 21.With no righful heir to take the throne of the once famous Otto the Great, the Empire collapsed as Otto III was buried in the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin at Aachen in 1002."(Duckett 105-139) 99 <Sources.htm>
Noted events in her life were:
• She was a Princess of Byzantine Empire.
Theophano married Otto II der Rote of Germany, son of Otto I the Great of Germany and Adelheid of Burgundy, on 14 Apr 972. (Otto II der Rote of Germany was born in 955 and died on 7 Dec 983 in Rome, Italy.)
Marriage Notes:
Their children were:Sophia, Abbess of Gandersheim, born 978 Adelaide, Abbess of Quedlinburg, born 977 Matilda of Saxony, born 978, and Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor, born 980 <Sources.htm>

Theophano married Otto II der Rote of Germany, son of Otto I the Great of Germany and Adelheid of Burgundy, on 14 Apr 972. (Otto II der Rote of Germany was born in 955 and died on 7 Dec 983 in Rome, Italy.)